John Stevens Trio - Live at The Plough

Geoffrey Totton, International Music Forum

This concert was recorded live in an English Pub over 20 years ago and is diffrent to what you would expect from free jazz.
The first track "Blue Rondo"is very lyrical with Mike Osbornes alto sax reminding me somewhat of Trevor Watts and Carlo Actis Dato. John Stevens drums and Paul Rogers bass work together like two lengths of twine woven into one rope.
The drumming is very tight, fluid and focused. At times the drums and bass feels more like a line of funky melody.....traveling through the original compositions: Plough Story, Carrousel, The Restart, MO Recapulations and the covers Cherokee and Summertime.
I can see three lines of diffrent neon colours....the drum and bass stranded together....and the sax dipping and diving like a bird above them....pulsating in the warm dark..a place of freedom not fear.